Diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria

Gender dysphoria is a condition where then person identifies himself or herself with the opposite of their original biological sex. This is not a mental disorder. However, some people may need therapy.

Diagnosis of gender dysphoria is thus important to rule out other concurrent or underlying mental disorders like anxiety, depression etc. (1)

A multidisciplinary team is required for diagnosis

Assessment of persons with gender dysphoria and diagnosis of the condition is a multidisciplinary action.

A detailed psychiatric history, psychosexual development and behavior history, neuropsychological testing and behavioral analysis may be needed.

The team may comprise of:

Psychiatrists

Psychologists

Neurologists

Endocrinologists (who specialize in hormonal functions)

Urologists (who specialize in the urinary tract and its abnormalities)

Behavioral and occupation therapists

Counsellors etc.

Gender dysphoria must be separated from homosexuality. Not all persons with gender dysphoria are homosexual. (1, 2)

Two phase diagnosis

Diagnosis may be a challenge since results of psychological testing may not be conclusive.

The International Harry Benjamin Gender Dysphoria Association lays down guidelines for a two phase diagnosis. (1)

Phase I – Diagnosis is based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders IV (Text Revision) or DSM – IV TR.

Phase II – Here the patient is assessed if he or she can live in the desired sex role permanently. This involves family information and counselling and name change. Hormonal therapy, gender re-assignation surgery and psychotherapy is administered as needed.

Ruling out other diagnosis

Differential diagnosis or other diagnosis that need to be ruled out during assessment of a suspected person with gender dysphoria include (1):–

Nonconformity to stereotypical sex role behaviors

Transvestic fetishism – The person may have a sexual fetish with cross dressing

Further Reading

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.

Comments

Does that rather not beg the question as to why Gender Dysphoria absolutely is classified as a mental disorder in the DSM-5? There are some "not very nice" possible answers to that rhetorical question. What is the real answer?

In the part where it was stating that children would want to to things typical of the opposite gender, I was furious, children probably are not completely aware of gender roles. Most (very) young children would be fine with another child wearing clothes of, or acting like, a child of the opposite gender. This should not be a requirement to be diagnosed.

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